Chapter 13 – Web of Spies
War was not fought only with swords.
Or dragons.
War was fought with information.
And Aeryn intended to know everything before anyone else.
The Idea
Aeryn stood in one of the abandoned map rooms inside Dragonstone, looking over old charts of Westeros when the system appeared again.
[STRATEGY OBJECTIVE]
Build an Information Network
Recruit Informants
Establish Spy Routes
Reward:
Strategy Skill Unlock
+400 XP
He smiled slightly.
"Exactly what I was thinking."
Footsteps echoed behind him.
He didn't turn around.
"You're following me again."
"I'm curious," said
Daemon Targaryen as he walked into the room. "There's a difference."
Aeryn glanced at him.
"I need people."
Daemon smirked.
"You have servants."
"I need loyal people," Aeryn replied. "Not obedient people."
Daemon's smile widened slightly.
"Now you're thinking like a ruler."
Building the Network
Over the next weeks, Aeryn began quietly building something no one noticed.
At least at first.
He spoke to:
Stable boys
Kitchen servants
Guards who gambled too much
Sailors in the harbor
Messengers
Dragonkeepers
Not as a prince.
As a friend.
As someone who listened.
Edward Kenway had learned long ago that information didn't come from kings.
It came from workers.
Drunks.
Servants.
Sailors.
Invisible people.
And invisible people heard everything.
Soon, information started reaching him:
Which lords supported Rhaenyra
Which houses leaned toward the Greens
Which ships came from King's Landing
Which maesters sent secret ravens
The system updated again.
[SPY NETWORK – ESTABLISHED]
Coverage:
Dragonstone – 80%
King's Landing – 25%
Driftmark – 40%
Strategy Skill Unlocked
Aeryn leaned back in his chair.
"Good."
Very good.
Dragon vs Dragon
Training with dragons became more dangerous.
Much more dangerous.
High above the sea, Nyxarion and Caraxes circled each other while their riders watched carefully.
Daemon shouted across the wind,
"Dragon fights are decided in seconds!"
Nyxarion roared, black fire building in its throat.
Caraxes twisted like a red serpent through the sky.
"Speed beats size!" Daemon shouted.
Aeryn shook his head slightly.
"Not always."
He leaned forward.
Nyxarion climbed higher.
Higher.
Higher.
Daemon's eyes widened slightly.
"Altitude…"
Aeryn dove.
Nyxarion fell like a meteor.
Faster than Caraxes could turn.
They passed above Daemon in a blur of black wings and fire.
Daemon laughed loudly.
"HA! Good! Very good!"
They circled again.
Two dragons.
Two riders.
Two future monsters of war.
If they ever fought for real…
Half the realm would burn.
The Enemy Moves
Weeks later, one of Aeryn's informants arrived in the night.
A kitchen boy.
Terrified.
"They're talking about you," the boy whispered.
"Who?" Aeryn asked calmly.
"Men from King's Landing. They spoke with one of the guards. They said the prince with the black dragon is a problem."
Aeryn nodded slowly.
"Did they say anything else?"
The boy swallowed.
"They said… problems can be removed quietly."
Silence filled the room.
Then the system appeared again.
[THREAT DETECTED]
Assassination Risk: HIGH
Enemies Active: Unknown Agents (King's Landing)
New Objective:
Identify and eliminate hostile agents
Aeryn smiled slightly.
"They want to assassinate an assassin…"
He stood up slowly.
"…that's a mistake."
The Hunter Becomes the Hunted
That night, Aeryn walked alone through one of the lower corridors.
On purpose.
Silent.
Calm.
Waiting.
He felt it before he saw it.
Footsteps behind him.
Not guards.
Too quiet.
Too careful.
He kept walking.
A shadow moved behind him.
A blade flashed in the dark—
Aeryn turned instantly.
Hidden blade out.
Clash.
Steel met steel.
The assassin jumped back in shock.
"You're not a child," the man hissed.
"No," Aeryn replied calmly.
"I'm not."
The assassin attacked again.
Fast.
Professional.
But Aeryn had lived another life fighting men like him.
Step.
Turn.
Block.
Close distance.
Hidden blade flashed once.
Shhk.
The assassin froze.
Then collapsed.
Dead before he hit the ground.
The system appeared again.
[ENEMY AGENT ELIMINATED]
XP +250
Reales +120
Reputation Increased: Dangerous
Aeryn looked down at the body.
Then he sighed slightly.
"They've started already…"
A Warning from the Rogue Prince
The next morning,
Daemon Targaryen found him in the training yard.
"I heard about last night," Daemon said.
"You have spies everywhere," Aeryn replied.
Daemon smirked.
"Of course I do."
He stepped closer.
"They sent an assassin after you."
"Yes."
Daemon studied him carefully.
"You killed him."
"Yes."
Daemon smiled slowly.
"Good."
He leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"Because from now on…"
"…it's only going to get worse."
Aeryn nodded slightly.
"I know."
Daemon's eyes gleamed.
"War is coming."
Aeryn looked toward the Dragonmont where Nyxarion rested like a living fortress.
"Yes," he said quietly.
"I'm counting on it."